helenwinfield

Since they were predicting a huge snowstorm here for Monday, last weekend I really pushed myself to try to get stuff done around the house that I might not be able to do until we got ourselves dug out.

Saturday morning I ran out to Mann Orchards and Thwaites Market and picked up some salad greens and ready made food (because I hate cooking for one). Because we’d had about four inches of sticky snow overnight, I was driving through a winter wonderland. All the trees and bushes were frosted with snow. But I was having trouble enjoying it because I’m still pissed at our Property Manager and snow reminds me of the whole kerfluffle. I need to get that out of my system so I can at least enjoy a pretty snowfall again.

I hauled a bunch of stuff out to the dumpster. Kitchen trash, a box of purged papers, and lots of empty cardboard boxes. I checked the dates on food in the fridge and found a few things past their expiration date, so those went out too. I also did a bunch of laundry, washed my sheets and all my bedding, bath towels, whites and darks. Next weekend, when it’s warmer out, I’m going to have to wash my fleece vests and winter coat, because I’ve been sweating whilst clearing off the cars and they could use a wash.

I also made a run out to Target and picked up a few things there, and a grocery run to Hannaford, for milk and other perishables.

At the start of the weekend I was facing a huge pile of dirty dishes and almost all of my silverware was dirty. And I think I was down to my last emergency spoon. I’ve got all the dishes done, the only dirty dishes are the ones I’ve used today. And I put away a bunch of stuff that was sitting out on the counters. I haven’t had this much counter space clear in quite a while. That was probably my biggest achievement this weekend. Tackling the kitchen for twenty minutes, then taking a break, then back to the kitchen again, even when I didn’t feel like it. Go me! *\0/*

I have absolutely no idea how much total snow we got yesterday. Things blew around way too much. I had maybe two inches of snow on the roof of one car, maybe an inch of snow on the roof of the other car, and drifts on the hoods and between cars.

My best guesstimate is that we didn't get more than six inches. But I have no way to verify that, other than my best guess.

ETA - dredpiratebunny lives on the other side of town and said the snow was up to her knees. A coworker in Dracut said she got at least a foot of snow. So I guess Frogholm really did manage to miss the worst part of the storm somehow!

Oh, forgot to mention that mom called last night to see how much snow we'd gotten already.

I'd been out to haul stuff to the dumpster and make a grocery run and had gotten back around 7:00 pm. Mom called around 8:00 to see how much snow we'd gotten? When I told her it hadn't started snowing yet, she asked if I was sure. I said I'd been outside in the past hour and she accepted that.

I said we were supposed to get 13 inches (6" on Sunday night, 7" over Monday) and she said, "No you're not, you're supposed to get two feet!" I told her that I'd been checking the forecast hourly all day, and that while they were forecasting more snow south of me, I hadn't heard anything about two feet for my area.

Lord, at my age you'd think she'd trust me to check my own weather forecast without her calling to warn me that the Snowpocaplyse is coming. She said she'll call back tonight to check how much snow we got.

She also asked about power outages. I told her I'm just down the road from the Water Company, so even when I lose power, I get it back pretty quickly.

I think she might be bored.

I got a letter from the DMV this week. I got my first choice on spelling for my vanity plate. Whenever it arrives (they say it could be twelve weeks, seems like a long time to stamp a plate to me!) my Subaru Forester will be sporting the license plate SHERWD.

Yep, Sherwood the Forester. Because I am THAT nerd.

***

Someone rang the buzzer at 8:30 am this morning. And I could hear the plow going by. So I dragged myself out of bed and went out to brush off the cars. I had both cleared off and was headed out to do my grocery shopping when the text came through at 9:30 that the plow guy was going to be on site. Thanks for the timely warning there. =P

***

A handful of us from the Guild are headed down to Jamestown for Military Through the Ages next month, to spend time with Das TeufelsAlpdrucken Fahnlein and to help out since this will be their first MTA without Larry leading them. Stephen organized a Zoom call today, because he figured a 30 minute call would save us a bunch of texting back and forth. We talked about what we might need to get out of storage, who is driving with whom (I’m going to grab Tom on my way down) and where we wanted to stay. Since there are several of us, we’re going to stay at the Historic Powhatan Williamsburg again. It’s a timeshare/condo thingy where we can rent basically a townhouse, with several rooms and a kitchen, for a pretty reasonable price. I’ve stayed there two or three times in the past.

***
Since last weekend was Valentine’s Day, I decided to take a break from reading murder mysteries and read a couple of romance novels I’d picked up but not read yet.

I’ve been reading a bunch of books by Christina Lauren (which is actually Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings writing together). I’d picked up a book called Tangled Up In You, which turned out to be part of a series of books (A "Meant To Be novel") based on Disney movies. This one was very loosely based on the movie Tangled (‘natch). I’m not a huge Disney fan like some people are, but the book was enjoyable. The authors only picked a few bits and pieces of the movie and spun a totally different story (but with a happily ever after, because it’s a romance). So I figured I’d take a chance on the other books in the series, and had ordered three more. So last weekend I read through If The Shoe Fits (Cinderella), which was excellent. And then I read By The Book (Beauty and the Beast) which was also good. Then I read Kiss The Girl (The Little Mermaid) which was probably my favorite of the series. I’m currently waiting for my order of Worth Fighting For (Mulan) which is new since I ordered the other four.

Anywhoo, if you’re a Disney fan and looking for some romance to read, these were fun.

***
My back has been hurting all week, so I haven’t really gotten anything done other than work. Since I was up (and out) earlier than usual today, it at least got me jumpstarted. And driving to pick up groceries with the heated seats on probably helped too. So today I tackled some neglected housework. I finally folded the load of laundry that I washed last week that’s been hanging out in the dryer ever since. I washed another load of laundry, and this time I got it all folded. I hauled two bags of kitchen trash out to the dumpster. Washed a bunch of dishes. And sorted through a pile of mail. Go me! Adulting! Being productive on a weekend!!! And I still have time to read in the evening.

Wheee!

Four inches of snow this morning.

Six more inches due on Sunday

Seven more inches due on Monday.

So much shoveling and brushing! =P

At least we're supposed to hit the 40s next weekend, so there will be meltage.